San Antonio Cocktail Conference: Shaking it up for Good

Annual conference mixes quality libations for good causes

By Julia Celeste

Photos: By Katie Clementson; Courtesy San Antonio Cocktail Conference

Even though the San Antonio Cocktail Conference (SACC) is cool, educational, fun, entertaining and, most importantly, philanthropic, it largely remains a mystery to most locals. Yet after two successful years it’s already a must-do for those in the know. Cocktail industry insiders from around the country consider it the place to be in January, and downtown businesses acknowledge it as a shot in the arm the city needs during a slow month. This year, organizers promise a bigger and better conference with parties, tastings and seminars for pros and everyday aficionados. “Education is front and center.

But at its core, it really is a wonderful festival celebrating cocktails and downtown,” says Scott Becker, SACC’s big-picture guy, who is general manager for Bohanan’s by day.

SACC 2014 officially kicks off things with a grand Opening Night at the Majestic on Thursday, Jan. 16 that will feature signature cocktails from 25 bars, grab-and-go munchies, musical entertainment and a live auction. A Friday night event will spotlight Texas-based spirits and the San Antonio River. “We’re heading by barge from the Weston Centre to the Pearl Stable,” says Becker. Saturday, the soiree hits the streets. Becker worked with city officials to commandeer Houston Street for a street party that runs simultaneously at Lüke and Bohanan’s and spills over to an after party at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre.

And no, it’s not just a drinking and eating festival. More than 25 seminars are led by heavyweight presenters at the top of the cocktail industry, including Sasha Petraske, Dale DeGroff, Johnny Schuler and Lynnette Marrero. The workshops are enriching to industry professionals and enthusiasts alike, with session titles like The Virtues of Cider, Cocktails for the Home, Cognac: Taste the History and A Spirited History of Women in the Cocktail World. Petraske will also judge a skills competition for mixologists on Sunday, the conference’s final day. The winning cocktail maker takes home a cash prize and major status.

Though San Antonio’s cocktail event is in its infancy compared to New Orleans’ Tales of the Cocktail and The Manhattan Cocktail Classic, it’s already earning recognition as one of the best in the country. What really sets it apart is the philanthropic side. “The main reason for creating the cocktail conference was to be involved in the community,” says Becker. “Of course we also wanted to promote the neighborhood businesses, expose people to the craft of cocktails and bring people downtown. But what sets this cocktail conference apart is that we put our nonprofit charities first.”

During its inception, Becker realized he and his team needed someone to teach them how to put on such a huge event, so he approached several area nonprofits to ask them for a 50/50 partnership. In return for their production guidance, they’d get 50 percent of the funds.

“I was incredibly struck by the team’s enthusiasm,” recalls Cathy Siegel, then-executive director for HeartGift San Antonio. “Not only were they passionate about how cool the Cocktail Conference would be, they were absolutely clear that their No. 1 priority was to raise funds for others.” HeartGift was selected as their featured nonprofit, and Siegel continues to be a critical member of the SACC team for the third year in a row. “It wouldn’t have blossomed without her,” says Becker.
SACC donated $67,000 in year one, and $75,000 in year two. This year’s donation will be split between HeartGift and ChildSafe, where Siegel is now development director. “The really cool thing is how the guest mixologists feel about the charitable element of our conference,” she says. “It means something to them. None of the other industry events give away the profits. They appreciate that about us.”

Not only are profits donated, but so is a lot of time. Becker’s seven-person team of organizers is all volunteers, and local restaurateurs and chefs step up, donating their time, ingredients, staff and creative energy to the events. This year, about 25 restaurants and bakeries will provide snacks for the Thursday-night gala, about 10 more will participate on Friday night, and Bohanan’s and Lüke will handle the bulk of the munchies for Saturday night’s street party. H-E-B, Ben E. Keith, Sysco and other food distributors donate generously to offset the restaurant outlays. The city’s two large restaurant supply stores, ACE Mart and Mission, provide serving equipment. Aztec Events & Tents offers huge discounts on tents and other necessities.

And then there is the liquor from big spirit houses, plus Texas distillers such as Treaty Oak, Dulce Vida, Deep Eddy and Cinco. Of course, there’s also a huge cadre of volunteer bartenders serving unique, memorable cocktails everywhere you turn.

But it’s all for a good cause. The San Antonio Cocktail Conference shows you can raise a cocktail glass and help hundreds of children in need.